Robert August Muller
Rank: Electrician’s Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy
Serial: 8151322
Unit: U.S. Naval Operating Facility #120, Recife, Brazil
Died:
Buried: New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, New Jersey
Biography
Robert August Muller Jr. was born on November 12, 1910, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to parents Robert Sr. and Lena (Munz) Muller. Robert Sr. was a saloon operator in Philadelphia. The Mullers had three more children: Frederick (born 1912), Francis (1913), and William (1916).
The family moved from South Philadelphia to 1107 West Kings Highway in Mount Ephraim around 1915. Robert Sr. found new employment as a shipfitter at a shipyard in Gloucester City. On the morning of October 8, 1919, a piece of iron plating fell from an unknown height, striking him in the head and killing him instantly. He was only 43 years old. Lena would now have to be solely responsible for raising her four young boys.
Robert attended elementary school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Gloucester City from first to eighth grade. After graduating from St. Mary’s, he moved on to Camden Catholic High School where he only completed freshman year before dropping out in 1926 to join the work force. He quickly found work as a messenger boy for the Bell Telephone Company in Philadelphia. After three years of running messages, he attended an eight-week course of specialized training to become a telephone installer. He would stay employed with Bell Telephone for 17 years. Outside of work, Muller enjoyed fishing and music. He was also involved with the Mount Ephraim Civil Defense as a member of the air raid warden unit.
On June 27, 1936, Robert married Katherine M. Levy of 15 Northmont Avenue at Sacred Heart Church in Camden. The newlyweds eventually purchased a house at 122 Fifth Avenue in Mount Ephraim in 1941.
By early fall 1943, Robert’s name had been chosen by Camden County Selective Service Board #4. Rather than wait to be drafted, he went to the Armed Forces Induction Center in Camden on September 13, 1943, and joined the U.S. Navy Reserves. He was recalled to active status on September 20, 1943, and sent to the Naval Training Station in Bainbridge, Maryland. At the end of training, he was promoted to Seaman Second Class. He reported on November 27 to the Naval Receiving Station in New York City to be shipped to the Navy Operating Facility (NOF #120) in Recife, Brazil.
On December 8, 1943, Seaman 2nd Class Muller departed New York Harbor aboard the USS Antaeus (AG-67) for the Caribbean, arriving at Trinidad on December 16 before boarding the USS Spry (PG-64) for Brazil. On December 30, 1943, the Spry crossed the Equator and Muller was initiated as a “Shellback.” Robert arrived at the U.S. Naval Operating Facility in Recife, Brazil on January 5, 1944.
Recife was the main base for the surface ships of the Fourth Fleet, whose objective was to dominate the strategically important Atlantic Narrows between Natal, Brazil and the African coast by finding and destroying Axis submarines and blockade runners. While serving at NOF #120, Muller was promoted on April 1, 1944, from Seaman 2nd Class to Seaman 1st Class, and three months later again to Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class — a title well-suited to his years of experience working for the telephone company.
On December 9, 1944, Robert was working on one of the telephone poles at the naval base when he lost his footing and fell, striking his head. He was admitted to the naval hospital where X-rays revealed fractures in the skull and left kneecap. His condition initially improved, and he was removed from serious condition on December 31, 1944. However, on February 26, 1945, he began to deteriorate. Doctors diagnosed a sub-dural hemorrhage. With the facility in Recife unable to provide adequate care, orders were given on March 21 to evacuate him to the Naval Hospital in Key West, Florida.
After an emergency surgical procedure on March 29, Robert’s condition briefly improved — he regained full use of the left side of his body and was placed on intensive penicillin therapy. However, by April 13, he took a severe turn for the worse, developing a marked tremor and high fever. Robert August Muller died at 3:27 a.m. on April 16, 1945, at the age of 34.
At the time of Robert’s death, all of his brothers were on active duty. Frederick was serving as a Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class aboard the USS O’Reilly (DE-330). Francis was a Boatswain 2nd Class aboard the USS Warren (APA-53). William was a Chief Signalman aboard the USS Westmoreland (APA-104), training off the coast of Hawaii.
Robert was survived by his wife Katherine, his mother Lena, and brothers Frederick, Francis, and William. The viewing was held at McCann Funeral Home in Gloucester City on April 19, 1945. Funeral services were held the next day with High Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Mount Ephraim, with interment at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey.